Christmas is the time of lights. Colourful lights are everywhere and with daylight in such short supply, it seems we are in darkness more than not.
So, it irks me as a cyclist when I see other people on bikes, especially in the winter, riding without any lights on their bike.
The auto industry realized decades ago that daytime running lights improve safety, even on sunny days, so why hasn’t this translated to all cyclists?
When I started cycling I never used lights, except for at night. I thought they were uncool and I got the feeling from other cyclists that we don’t need them as long as we ride safely.
Slowly though, I started using lights earlier in the evening and on rainy days.
This was mostly in response to close calls I had with vehicles on side roads where lighting wasn’t the best.
However, it was actually a sunny, summer day that changed everything for me, and I’ve used lights full-time ever since.
Two summers ago, on a beautiful, clear sunny day, I was riding down Westminster Highway with the intention of turning left on No. 7 Road.
As I approached the intersection, I looked behind me and cars were coming, but they were at least a kilometre away (I could see them by their daytime running lights).
I moved to the centre of the lane and using my left arm indicated a left turn. There was a long line of traffic coming towards me, so I had to wait for them to pass. There I was, in the lane with my arm out waiting my turn.
With my focus on the cars still coming towards me, I heard the sound that changed my opinion of bicycle lights during the day.
Screeching tires skidding along the pavement as the car, that had been at least a kilometre behind, slid up behind me, stopping within a couple feet of me.
I’d been in that driver’s view for at least one full minute, directly in front of him, and he hadn’t even seen me until the last second.
I was angry with the driver, however I sympathized with him.
I was wearing mostly black, my bike and tires are black; so I asked myself — would I have seen me any better if I had been driving that car?
And the fact is, I do drive a car, and since then I’ve come to recognize that cyclists with lights are much more visible any time of the day.
If you are a cyclist, especially on the road and you don’t have lights, Christmas is the perfect time to get them.
There are local store and online sales, especially for Boxing and New Years Day.
Put lights on your Christmas list and if you’re too old to give it to Santa, then pass it on to your spouse, significant other or your children.
Ride safe everyone, and do everything you can to be seen out there.
Geordie McGillivray is an avid Richmond cyclist. His Saddle Up column will be appearing regularly in the Richmond News
